Akaka Falls State Park Reviews

On our Big Island Circle Tour, we stopped at Akaka Falls and it was amazing. To get to the falls, we hiked through the most beautiful rainforest. It was so green and lush and there were so many gorgeous flowers and so many different kinds of plants. It wasn’t a very difficult walk to get to the falls and back, totally paved with handrails. There were also bathrooms and lots of feral cats about, which was kind of fun! Definitely a stop worth making when touring the Big Island.

Honestly for the price to visit this waterfall we were a little disappointed. It looks exactly like the picture, and there’s not much else to see. There’s a short walk through the forest that is pretty, but I think the price is a little steep for such a small park. You can go to Rainbow Falls just down the road and it’s just as nice and free. So if you only have time for one I would do Rainbow instead of this one. Also, if you have trouble with steps you might want to skip this as well. There are a lot of stairs to climb.

For a family of 5 we had to pay $35 for a 5 min walk through the forest to see one waterfall. The waterfall and walk are beautiful, but the price is absurd for what is at most a 30 minute stop. The viewing point itself is not great for photos and very small/crowded. We would skip this in hindsight.

The reviews here made me expect a pretty great time, but it was kind of a let down for me. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this to people unless it's near wherever they plan on going on that day. One complaint is you need to pay to park and then pay to get into the (very small) park. You can park outside the gates for free and then walk ten extra feet, which most people do. The "rangers" (for lack of a better word, they aren't real rangers) sit outside the main walkway making sure people pay at to get in. Once in it's a relatively easy 1-mile or so loop. There are a few stairs, so older or out of shape people will get a bit of a workout. It's easy for kids & healthy adults. The waterfall is quite a distance away (further away than the zoomed in pics indicate) and not as enjoyable as you'd think based on the pics. The walk there is fairly nice, mostly covered jungle canopy with lots of trees and plants to look at. In hindsight I would not have gone here, and I would not recommend others go out of their way to check it off their lists. If you want a better waterfall I recommend Rainbow Falls instead. You can get closer and it's a better view.

beautiful full flowing waterfall in rain forest
nice cement stairs and trail with railings
worth the trip
bring an umbrella

We visited here on 4/20/23. It was about a 35 min. drive from Hilo. There is limited parking so go early . The parking fee is $10 (you can park along the road and walk in and avoid the parking fee) and the park entry fee is $5 per person.
The loop to the falls is 1/2 mile (about 45 min with stops for photos). It's an easy walk but has lots of stairs. Most people do the loop counter clockwise but if all you want to see is the main falls do it clockwise and you'll have a very short walk to Akaka Falls.
It is a pretty water fall and was worth visiting

Beautiful walking trails all around this scenic spot. Lots of stairs just to keep in mind for those who are wondering but the trail and all stars are pavement. It rained the whole time we were there as it is a rainforest which also means it is very lush and green.

Worth the time to go see this waterfall for sure.

Agree with several of the other reviewers here. By the way, there are two routes you can take: The longer route, which includes a 2nd waterfall. Or the shorter route, which includes a direct walk to the main waterfall. There are a few steps and some inclines along the way. The parking lot attendant told my wife there would be 350+ steps to take. Well, not the shorter route anyways. We were able to make the easy, paved walk in about 15 minutes or so. The waterfall itself is nice to look at. But, as the other reviewers mentioned, it's $10 to park, and $5 per person. So, for 2 of us, it was $20 to go see. I guess they gotta find a way to make some money back after COVID hit their tourism income so hard. But, dang, that's a bit pricey.

Beautiful surroundings. Easy walk even with the stairs. Helpful staff letting us know the best path to take for someone challenged with a lot of walking. Appreciated the hand rails all the way to the falls. Lots of amazing plants and flowers along the way. $5 per person entry using credit card in the available machines made it easy.

My husband and I were not impressed by the Akaka Falls. Giving the experience 3 stars is very generous. 2.5 is more realistic. Overall, the approach to the falls, parking felt like we were in a third world country. The view of the falls and the falls were very underwhelming. The photo on TripAdvisor looks much better than the real thing.

This place is amazingly beautiful. You are right in the middle of the rainforest. It was surreal. There is lots of steps as a forewarning.

Akaka Falls, you can get to with either a short or longer walk. There are steps and paths, think about your mobility, this will help on your decision.

Whichever route you take, the place is stunning and the waterfalls are absolutely amazing.

I would definitely recommend ☀️

Mildly strenuous trek if you walk the complete route, not pleasant on a hot day, but worth it. Parking can be challenging, we parked outside of the pay lot along the side of the road.

Wonderful waterfall and great trail in the forest, you can see two waterfalls, it takes around 30 minutes to do the whole circuit.

When you arrive you can park in their lot for $10 or you can park just outside gate for free. There are helpful attendants there to let you know how to pay for entertainment ($5 per person) and where to go regarding construction. The path is paved but it’s not wheelchair or stroller friendly. There are handrails throughout the beautiful forest and many points to stop for photos. There is one small waterfall from a distance and you can see the Akaka fallls from across the valley due to construction closure at this time. In this area there was a shelter with benches if you needed a rest before you hiked back uphill.

We did enjoy the 1/2 mile loop trail and glad we went; our primary interest was to see the 442' falls. The park is 15 miles north of Hilo, at the end of Akaka Falls Road which is off Hwy 220. If your time on the Big Island is limited, you should use it for the Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Garden on Mamalahoa Hwy (it is magnificent, although it does not have a waterfall). Akaka Falls State Park is not a difficult hike (even for a 74-year old with bad knees), although there are several spots with lots of stairs. Be aware there is a $10 parking fee and an entry fee of $5 per person (a reasonable charge to maintain the park).

Beautiful falls and just a short walk to view. 442 ft falls. Amazing!! One of many waterfalls on this part of the island

It’s about a 0.5 mile loop. There are a decent amount of stairs but it’s an easy feature as long as you’re not mobility-impaired. The views are spectacular. You really feel like you’ve stepped into a rainforest. It’s a quick stop but well worth it.

It takes about 30 minutes to rent a car from Hilo city center, then north.
Parking ($10) was required, which is unusual on the Big Island.
It's a state park, and admission is $10 per person.
I pay at the fare machine, and there's a staff, so it's not like automatic ... Even in 4545, the staff tell me what to do, so it's smooth for tourists who aren't used to it.

We walked down the stairs and around the right hand side of the trail, about 30 minutes per lap from either side.
I think it's wild, but there are so many different tropical plants, it's just amazing!
If you're interested in tropical plants, that might be enough...

"Akaka Falls" itself is 134m high, but it is a little bit distant due to the distance, so "Kegon Falls @ Nikko" that can be seen up close is much more powerful!
（2025.09.12)

Oh my gosh! We have been on several driving tours of Dipak Island, and I think this is the first time we’ve ever done the Akaka Falls. It was spectacular! Even though it rained on us most of the time, the views were still beautiful and tropical. Lush forest is amazing.

It was very beautiful. Parking inside the yellow gate was $10 and entry fee was $5 per person. The parking seemed a little much but overall was still a good time. You walk on a paved path and see several little falls along with the large fall. It took about an hour or so. Was very beautiful.

"If you’re yearning for a real-life National Lampoon's Vacation experience, look no further than Akaka Falls State Park! Despite the website's assurances, we arrived after hours of travel only to find it "closed for maintenance." Maintenance? On a natural waterfall? The staff, channeling their inner Wally World security guards, couldn’t have cared less about our plight. Indifferent, lazy, and utterly unbothered by the concept of customer service. If you love scenic views of locked gates and apathetic employees, Akaka Falls is your dream destination. Otherwise, just watch the movie—it’s less disappointing."

You enter the park and take a paved trail - the trail does have some steep inclines and declines but not too strenuous. It takes you to an amazing overlook of the falls. We’ll worth the trip and the hike to get to it.

This was a nice hike with two beautiful huge waterfalls. There are lots of stairs but it is well worth the fabulous view! There are a lot of geckos to see too!

Beautiful jungle with a beautiful waterfall. Pretty short circular walk. Payment required for both parking and for the circular walk.

This waterfall is in a tropical forest and is quite a walk from the car park down a steep slope and stairs. You have to pay to enter this park , but could save yourself $10 by parking the other side of the entrance to the park. There are two waterfalls and the first one is smaller than the other. There are a lot of tropical plants, flowers and trees to see and the pathways are concrete. Take the left hand fork for the shortest route to the falls the right hand one for a longer walk around the park with about 200 steps to climb!

Big Al’s top tips
Wear good footwear and take a bottle of water with you as it can be hot and humid walking to the falls. Park outside the park entrance to avoid parking charges on top of the entry fee. Follow me for travel tips around the world

Take a nice stroll and be flawed by Mother Nature Awesomeness. Beautiful Waterfall to behold with your eyes and take lots of photos.

Great view on the waterfall, unfortunately, you cant come anywhere near it. Given they charge for parking and entrance - 4 stars.

I never pass up a chance to stop at Akaka Falls. It's not that far off the main road. It's free. It's magical. If I lived close by I'd visit everyday.

I can only give this park 3 stars as it would have been so easy to make it wheelchair accessible with a couple of ramps. Instead a couple of flights of steps make this inaccessible to anyone who cant walk. So i left my husband in the car and walked to the falls myself. It is certainly quite dramatic and definitely worth a detour to see it.

Very nice scenery ! Paved way to the falls and easy hike/walk the lookout . One of the most scenic place to visit.

Beautiful waterfall
Well worth the drive to get there
Cute little town just outside the park

Get the Guide Along app to get directions and informative tidbits

Very nice park attendants and amazingly helpful attendant who tried to find a parking space for everyone. The circular route to walk was paved and well labelled (too bad some people decided to go their own way against the signs directions) There are stairs and, railings and nice photo opportunities. It took us 20 minutes to walk around snap photos and ooohhh and ahhhh at the falls. Down side it is crowded and too short of a walk. The vegetation is quite amazing, a longer walk would be great. Still the journey there was part of the fun combined with the scenic route out of Hilo and continued on to the lovely communities in the north island and it is a great day.

Not that impressive a fall, but pretty. Get there early and avoid the bus tours that show up. The trail is 100% paved, not that far to get to the main falls. Quite a few steps, it not a problem for us. We got some nice photos, but not sure this was worth the almost 2 hour drive we took from Kona to Hilo

A spectacular free-falling waterfall over 400 feet that was used in opening scenes of Jurassic Park. Some reviews damned it with faint praise, but I was glad we went. If I went again I would park on the road outside and not pay the $10 parking fee (highway robbery!). But it was worth the $5 per person entry fee to walk in. I enjoyed the full loop trail because of the jungle vegetation reminiscent of King Kong, Akaka Falls is well worth seeing, but don’t get excited about seeing the other falls: they are punk. I don’t know where “3 hours” comes from for duration: I think we did the whole thing in a half hour. There are some stairs and some climbing, but this was about the easiest trail we did on our whole trip.

Viewing area is obscured, so best Photo-0p is on the stairs. Parking is contracted to a company, apparently. Many park along the road. Part of the path is closed, requiring two way traffic on the stairs and path. Many older ones on tours were there, and there are tons of stairs all along the way. So many of them were struggling with the path and stairs. There are better waterfall options for anyone with kids or any mobility concerns.

The falls are ok, BUT you have to pay $10 per car and $5 per person for 15min loop walk. Not really worth it to me.

A very impressive waterfall! We always enjoy visiting Akaka Falls. Paths are well maintained. Prices have gone up over the years but it's still worth it to see this wonder.

The falls are amazingly beautiful, the hike in is simple and family-friendly, and there are more "smaller" things to see and enjoy. However, it's slightly out of the way (unless you're already driving north of Hilo), parking is a bit onerous, and the trail can get crowded, especially with how narrow it is. We're still glad we went, though, and have some incredible pics.

If you're interested, I would also combine a trip here with a visit to the Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden, which is fantastic!

If you only had time to visit one waterfall, this should be on the top of your list.

The view of the waterfall was absolutely breathtaking not to mention the lead up to the fall where you can experience the lush greenery. You don't need to be a hiker to appreciate the true beauty of this state park.

At the time of our visit, parts of the park and certain path ways were under construction but that didn't detract from the splendor of the park. You were totally immersed in the thickness of the forest. We paid about $30 for a family of four including the $10 parking fee which we were able to pay using the ParkMobile app. The easy hike to the waterfall took about maybe 20min and every turn on the path was truly spectacular. We probably spent about an hour at most at the park which I thought was more than sufficient.

On a side note, we also wanted to see Rainbow Falls but was short on time. Having seen videos and pictures of Rainbow Falls, I'm glad we decided to make time for this one instead.

You can see the falls from the start of the 1/2 mile walk and take your pic, or you can walk the paved walkway to the other side where you will see the falls even more amazing. There are other water falls along the paved trail to see. Plus lush green plants, flowers, and streams. There are quite a few stairs along this walk. I do not recommend doing this the same day you are doing other long walking tours unless you are used to elevation walking and getting 10,000 or more steps per day. We did this after walking the botanical gardens, which were also impressive.

Very easy to get to, with parking (paid and unpaid outside of the area if you are willing to walk a bit). There is per person entrance fee, but so worth it. Paved path that meandered down, lot of things to see. Lush bamboo and growth for shade. You walk up to Kahuna Falls first. It is smaller and part of the falls obscured.

Then Akaka Falls is much more impressive. Good area for both viewing and photo taking. Totally worth the time and drive.

At over 400 feet tall, Akaka Falls is a truly stunning waterfall. Technically, the loop trail also has an overlook for Kahuna Falls, but unfortunately it wasn't actually viewable. Nonetheless, the loop still made for a nice walk through the rainforest.

Parking is $10, and there is also a $5 entry fee per person. The lot is very small, and although we got a spot, by the time we left in the mid-morning, people had to park on the side of the road and walk in, so it's best to get there early.

While not super cheap, it's still a nice place to spend an hour enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Depends what your looking for. It’s a walk in a sidewalk wjth the view of a waterfall. If that’s your thing you will love it. Didn’t feel this was that exciting at all.

The waterfall was and remains spectacular. Although a relatively small stream, it descends a great distance. The loop trail takes you to the best vista points and is an easy walk. The drive to get here is beautiful.

It's a beautiful walk but on a hot day gets a little long. If you go left at the sign you'll save a lot of effort. You can barely see the smaller falls through the vegetation so it's not really worth doing the loop in my opinion.

The parking lot is small, but they are building another. Save $10, and park outside the park. It’s a short walk. The website says you should buy tickets in advance, but they have 3 ticket kiosks and people helping. Get your ticket at the site. The walk isn’t too difficult. The restrooms are good.

Great falls, a round trip through the rainforest. I wish we could approach the falls closer, unfortunately this was not the case. Fair prices.

After a little walking through the jungle you end up facing this beuty! The sound, the vision of it all was just magnificent.

We spent a week in the Pac NW before coming to Hawaii and saw some amazing waterfalls that were not wall to wall people. This is basically a paved trail of wall to wall people. You can park "outside of the park" on the shoulder of the road to avoid the $10 parking fee, but it is $5 per person to walk in. The falls are impressive, the rainforest is gorgeous, but it is a tourist trap in my opinion. It was definitely a one and done for our family

Very nice loop trail to walk. There are quite a few sets of stairs to navigate, so be mindful if you have knee issues. Very picturesque waterfalls. Parking and admission fees were reasonable.

Okay view but really not that impressive. Need to drive a bit to reach this place. If your time is limited, you can probably skip this place

It takes about 1.5 hours from Kingsland on Route 19. For two people, the parking fee is $10 plus admission is $5 per person plus taxes, or about $20. I buy it from a vending machine, but the attendant helps me. On the clockwise route, you will see Kahuna Falls in the distance, followed by Akaka Falls, but you can go around in about 20 minutes. The promenade was paved and there were no steep hills or stairs, so it was easy to walk. Akaka Falls is powerful because of its large volume of water. Colorful flowers were blooming along the promenade.

The one thing we realized the park was helping with human foot traffic was posting a sign that said ONE WAY - you enter to the right and walk and enjoy the local trees and fauna. Follow the trail and it will lead you to the falls itself! There are two lookout points for photo ops. Easy walk.ONE VERY short trail.
Parking was a bit of a challenge / park outside the park lines and it’s free. Park inside the very small lot it’s 5.00 and it’s entry fee is 5.00 as well. There’s a machine that takes credit card and local attendants are checking.

Parking is kind of a mess, if you want to save some cash you can park outside the gate (assuming there is room) and then you only have to pay for admission, not parking. I can't remember the exact number of steps they said but I think the short route is like 55 steps and ~.5 miles round trip while the long route is 355 steps and a mile or so round trip. Something like that anyways. I didn't do the full loop, I just took the short route over to Akaka Falls and it was pretty awesome. It had been raining quite a lot recently so the falls had a lot of water coming down. Lots of nice pictures and beautiful foliage to see on the way in and out.

A Kaká fall is a beautiful is beautiful .
You can walk less then one mile in the gorgeous rain floresta. You will discover a lot deferents plants, like orchids, bamboo .

The walk to the falls (and be sure to take the full circle walk) passes through some of the most spectacular scenery I've seen! Absolutely stunning!! The falls are beautiful, but the journey to the falls is not to be missed.

This is our 3rd stop for all the falls, need to pay $5.00 each for entrance and plus the parking if you park inside. Walk the loop was a nice falls so beautiful.

Cost $23 for vehicle and 2 persons to enter. 2 falls along a paved path with 300 ish steps. We circled around starting left. The 1st falls was lackluster and I couldn’t see the 2nd due to vegetation. Boring walk.

Breathtaking view of this huge waterfall. Paying for parking was a bit annoying, but worth the nice little hike. You actually get to see two waterfalls if you do the circle hike (maybe only 20-25 min total). It was all
well paved paths. In terms of difficultly, I’m 7.5 months pregnant and I was only breathing heavy during some of the stairs!

You pay for parking and entering but you can park
on the street. Then you do a hike that has a bit of up and down but the falls are out of “Jurassic Park.”

Hilo Is in the rainforest so you can be sure that it’s gone rain a little bit every day. Four days Is an off to visit around Hilo : the Falls, the volcano, the town and the cliff.

This is a must go while in Hilo. Although marked and signed, people does not wlak counter clockwise (to your right on first fork). This is the best option to see both falls and I think is more scenic to view Akaka from the top first, in front of you. Easy walk, although several "steps", anyone can do it. Just take it slowly. Great and beautiful walking tour.

The most amazingly beautiful natural sight in a tropical rainforest on the Big Island. Concrete walking bath with sturdy stainless steel handrails leading to a covered viewing area.

We visited here on 03/26 and paid the requisite fee $5/person along with the Account Maintenance fee and the Hawaiian GET tax for a total cost of $16.13 for three people. CREDIT CARD ONLY!
The walk to the falls is a circular route through a humid rainforest that takes about 30 minutes. If you follow signage and follow the one-way route, after a steep descent you come to an area that overlooks Kahuna Falls. This fall is hard to see as the vegetation almost obscures the falls. After this disappointing view you climb towards Akaka Falls and the trek is worth the time.
This is an amazing single drop waterfall.
At the overlook for the falls there is a covered rest area.
This experience is a bit expensive, but you do get to see a great waterfall.
This is a popular attraction and the parking lot is small so parking can be problematic.
This is a 4 star review instead of a 5 star just due to the associated cost of this attraction.

Definitely worth the trip if you are in the area. It is a quick hike around the rim of one side of the waterfall. When you get to the bottom of the stairs, go left and save yourself some time. The other waterfall was not worth seeing. Akaka is ver beautiful. It was worth the trip. Get there early. We left at 10:30 and that is when all the tour buses started to show. Parking was at a premium when we were leaving. The only down side is the cost. It was $10 per car and $5 per person. There is no way around as the parking attendants stand right by the start of the path down. Seems pretty steep for 4 people and a 20 minute visit. Oh well

Stunningly beautiful! Easy and beautiful walk to the falls. These falls are a must see while on the Big Island.

Loved every bit of this experience. The view and the trails were great and it added a great deal to our trip

Over-priced tourist trap. Not much more to say here. 30 miles out of Hilo. Not a bad drive, but once you get their very underwhelming.

Construction in the area, looks like condos going in right next dorr, See it before it's gone. One part of the trail is closed, you are not close to the falls and the bottom is hidden by land mass.

It’s $5 per person + $10 to park. There is parking outside of the parking lot on the side of the road that is free. Restrooms are available at the entrance. There are two falls, Kahuna & Akaka. There are no marking for Kahuna Falls, so know that the little lookout for before you ascend up the steps on the far right side of the path is Kahuna Falls.

The park attendants tell you to go the right to start as it is easier on the body than going to the left. Note that there are a LOT of stairs going both up and down throughout the entire loop. This may not be suitable for someone with knee problems (although I did it & have knee issues) or who are unsteady.

When you get down to Akaka Falls viewpoint, there is a small covered seating. The path to both falls is in the middle of the forest of trees, flowers, and bushes. Beautiful sight. Overall worth a visit!

This is an easy and lovely hike through the rainforest to the falls. A word of advice. You can save the steep parking fee by parking outside of the gate. It’s not a far walk to the entrance.

Short easy hike (although not handicapped accessible). It's worth doing the entire loop as it is really not long (you can see Akaka from the parking lot). There's not much else to do so even a leisurely circuit of the falls will have you back at the car in an hour.

Nice walk, excellent views, worth the $10 per person fee. Not difficult drive, and parking free with paid attendance.

Akaka Falls State Park is truly one of the most breathtaking spots we visited on the Big Island! For a $5 per person entry fee and $10 for parking, it’s well worth the experience. The paved loop trail took us about 30 minutes at a relaxed pace, with plenty of time to stop, take in the lush tropical surroundings, and snap lots of incredible photos.

The short hike is easy and family-friendly, with a few stairs and gentle slopes. You’re immediately surrounded by vibrant greenery—bamboo groves, wild orchids, and towering trees—as you make your way to the viewing platform. And then, there it is: Akaka Falls, cascading dramatically 442 feet into a gorge below. It’s absolutely stunning—photos don’t do it justice!

We also caught a glimpse of Kahuna Falls along the loop, but Akaka is definitely the star of the show. The mist, sound of rushing water, and panoramic views make it a serene and awe-inspiring experience.

If you’re in the Hilo area or passing through, don’t miss this stop. It’s the perfect combo of natural beauty, an easy walk, and a glimpse into Hawai‘i’s rich rainforest landscape. 🌿💧✨

The people working at the Akaka falls were really really nice but Rather than go here take the scenic route (4 mile stretch of road off highway 19). There’s some nice waterfalls there and in highway 19 heading east towards Hilo there’s nicer falls at one of the bridges.

You can see Akaka Falls and Kahuna Falls, but Akaka Falls is the main attraction because Kahuna Falls is small. It looks quite far away.
It takes about 30 minutes to go around once.

Non-locals must pay for parking and admission by credit card. JCB cards are not accepted.

Very accessible waterfalls nice paved trail to walk.
Water levels are weather dependant so it could be a bit disappointing if dryer. not sure why they charge so much for this park. No facilities, No educational or cultural information other than a few signs along the walk.

Beautiful small hike to see the waterfalls. You can’t go close to the waterfalls, but it’s a nice short walk. Great little stop on your way!

Don’t waste your time or money to visit Akaka Falls. The walk is fine, but you can only see one of two falls in the park. Rainbow Falls is much better & it’s free!

So very beautiful! My family and I enjoyed the view. We went as part of the big island tour, which was very fun.

The walk to the falls has some unevenly paved areas and has about three sets of stairs. Go left for a shorter walk to the falls.

The cost to enter the park is $5 per person and $10 to park. Small price to pay to see two waterfalls. The walk is completely hard surface and easy. Highly recommend

The falls are a mesmerizing experience. The sheer volume of water, magnitude and scenery was captivating and unforgettable. The walk from the parking lot to the falls are surrounded by incredible scenery of small water falls and jungle. Overall a fabulous experience.

Park outside the gate to save $10 parking. The path is paved and nice but you can’t do the loop as quite a bit is under construction. $5 entry fee per person is well worth it.

Get there early for the best experience! Small quick hike and beautiful scenery.
We left around 11 am from the park and it was completely full as parking is extremely limited.

It was beautiful and the flora and fauna was amazing. The weather was great, and we managed to get a good parking space.

We enjoyed our is it to the falls. There is a nice round trip trail that takes you by both falls. There are a lot of steps and be sure comfortable walking

Be sure to read the stories before walking trail

Took our friends to view the falls. Told them it's usually cloudy or rainy, but the day we went this time it was hot, humid and sunny. The falls are totally different in the sun!

There is a place in the small parking lot that you must pay and they have restrooms available.

There are two ways to go and view the falls - the loop (longer walk) and the quick walk. The walkways are paved and there are a lot of stairs with railings to hold on. There are so many ferns and wild flowers. We even saw a gecko climbing on a small bridge over the water from the falls.

Beautiful waterfall with a 30min round walk through beautiful nature. You park and pay admission, 5$ p.p. and 10$ for the car and you walk through easy trapoen with railings a relaxed round with beautiful viewpoints. The waterfall itself is impressive but the rainforest-like nature around it certainly is. Nice time to stretch your legs for half an hour.

Parking is $10 inside the yellow gate. Park just outside for free. Entry is $5 per person. The trail loops to two waterfalls, but Kahuna Falls is nearly too overgrown to see! The trail is not difficult, but for the price of parking and admission the falls should be clearly visible! Akuka Falls is beautiful!

Total waste of money. This park is only for the selfie obsessed people. Quick walk around on a trail and you can't even see one of the waterfalls.

The cost is $5 a person and $10 to park. Parking is limited and many parked on the side of the road outside of the parking lot.

Half the pathway was closed so it meant the pathways were a little more crowded.

Walk wasn’t long, but had plenty of stairs.

Falls were neat and there were lots of cool trees and flowers.

We walked the loop through the rain forest, it was sprinkling, but it was beautiful anyway! The walk is pretty easy if you are able to walk up and down hills (the hills have steps). The walk is so worth it.

The falls are beautiful, even when it's sprinkling!!

This was a very cool hike. When you get to the parking lot, you pay for parking and entrance ($10 per car PLUS $5 per person) and walk along a one way path. On the walk, you will experience the rain forest and multiple falls that was super easy for my little ones and my mother in law. You could also do this hike with a little one in a pack/carrier and have no issues. It was interesting to read about the falls and fish along the way! A little overpriced, but I would say this is a must for visiting the Hilo side of the BI.

Really large waterfall that is simple to get to. There is parking available at a cost or you can try street parking. Admission gets you the loop hike to the waterfall and back. It's a pretty hike, worth the price.

Things to know:
It is not just the waterfalls. It is a paved hike you take for around 30 minutes. It is beautiful, Easy. Kids can do it.

1. Parking: We didn't have problem finding parking. But we were before the Memorial day weekend. So it might get more busy. But it is not a long hike so people leave often.
2. Mosquitos - i didn't encounter any.
3. The parking lot has toilets
4. It is not suitable fro strollers. Has stairs. So you need to be able to walk up and down stairs.
5. it is not a very strenuous hike but it does require going up and down.
6. Took us around 30 minutes to cover the entire loop with many photo stops.
7. Great photo spots all along the hike.

Waterfall is pretty but kinda a hefty price just to view it. $10 per car and $5 per person. If you wanna save $10, park outside the gate and walk in.

Beautiful park with tons of gorgeous trees, shrubs, and flowers in addition to the falls. The hike is easy and paved. Highly recommend!

A short hike to see the falls but very up and down. Great flowers along the way. A bit of a drive from Kona.

A really gorgeous waterfall that is worth making a special trip to see. There is a short trail to the viewing area, but it not difficult at all.

I enjoyed this walk (not really a hike)! All kinds of tropical plants to look at, and the falls are beautiful. It can get crowded, so I think you should go early. Great photo ops! The stairs can be wet, so wear decent shoes.

The entire walk was beyond beautiful and the falls simply stunning. Definitely worth the price of admission. We took our time and lingered. Took several photos.

The falls are beautiful. There is a paved path that makes a short loop. There is some elevation change, It is very tropic feeling. Large plants, trees, and beautiful flowers. The birds have a rhythm about their singing. Note: we saw. Information stating to get tickets and parking in advance, just do it at the park. It is busy, so you may have to wait to get in. Allocate 1-2 hours for this. $$$

A must-see. Not just the fall, but the scenic road leading to and the path around it. If you see a line of cars trying to get into the parking lot, take a U-turn and park on the side of the road and walk a few minutes.

Well worth going to!!!! The rain forest is beautiful and the walk was easy! We stopped here on our way back from National Volcanoes Park .

Paid $20 total ($10 parking, $5/person entrance fee) to see a waterfall. If this is your first time seeing a waterfall, then worth it. Having seen other waterfalls in the past, it was not worth the $. It takes you maybe 15 mins to walk “the long path” (to the right) and see another waterfall (barely visible behind trees) or 5 mins on short path (to the left). Add the $20 fee on top of a 2 hour drive from Kona, I won’t visit this spot again.

My wife and I visited as part of a Holland America Cruise shore excursion. These falls were part of a day long tour via a tour van. Our driver had our tickets upon arrival. There is a nice circle trail from the parking lot, going to the Kahuna Falls lookout, then the Akaka falls lookout. The Akaka falls was super cool. And with plenty of rain, the falls were fast flowing. It was a scenic walk too. We had a very nice time.

We did a day trip in search of waterfalls . We were glad we went here this was a spectacular place . Visiting a few smaller falls in Hilo was good but this was the best . Did not realize how big the falls were compared to others around the world .. park outside park gate to save $10. Parking fee and walk into falls area .. $5. Per person charge but well worth the experience of walking along pathway to see falls 👍

Such a great little spot to hike and enjoy some incredible scenery. The path is paved and well defined. Accessible for most, do the loop if possible, it’s worth it! You’ll need to pay a parking fee per vehicle, and a hiking pass for each individual.

Akaka Falls is big and beautiful. And while it's the star of the show and worth the drive north of Hilo, the rainforest that surrounds it is equally impressive. To get to the falls you have to walk through acres of rainforest. The plantlife and animal sounds put you in the middle of nature, even though you're comfortable and secure on a paved path. The park was busy when we visited, but we had no problem finding a parking spot and crowds never seemed too overwhelming.

After snorkeling at Carlsmith Beach (great place!), I remembered that there were a couple waterfalls near Hilo. Started out heading to Akaka, which turned out to be a very long drive north, then west. Over 10 miles, as I recall. Pulled into a spot in the wide-open parking lot. Arrived at the entrance steps, where a park employee explained the fees. Over $33 for entry for a family of 4 non-Hawaii residents (no military discount) and parking. She did allow that I could move my car to outside the lot to reduce the fee, but the parking fee should be posted at the entrance. From the entrance, the actual waterfall is quite a hike, including many steps, both upon and down. While I'm sure the waterfall is impressive at times, it was not impressive during our visit. Rainbow Falls, which we visited next (and is closer to Hilo and a short walk from the free parking lot), was much better. If you only have time for one waterfall, pick Rainbow. Back to Akaka: Continuing the loop after the waterfall viewing, lots more up & down steps. I believe there were over 200 steps up today. A true unexpected workout. So, adding in the fees, the long hike, and the weak waterfall, totally not worth it.

This was a beautiful waterfall to see. Also, we enjoyed the hike around the garden area. It does cost so be prepared.
I was mostly disappointed with how gross the bathrooms were. I don’t have high standards for public, outdoor bathroom but this was gross!

The hike to the falls is an East up & down walk through gorgeous rainforest. The falls are impressive…but vegetation in front of the viewing area prevents seeing the bottom portion of the falls. Still it is well worth the time.
Recommended.

The place and hike were great. The scenery for the hike was pretty. It was generally a mild paved hike with plenty of stairs. I enjoyed the lush scenery perhaps even more than the falls, which was quite nice also.

Nice walk to and from the falls. Parking is a little pricey ($20). It was nice to get out and stretch our legs after the drive from the western side of the island. The easier path was under construction so only one path was available - steeper and more steps.

This pace was obviously very beautiful but be forewarned that it is quite a hike with LOTS of stairs. If you have an injury, it will be difficult. Not impossible as I did it with a hurt knee but I wish I would have known this ahead of time.

I have always loved Akaka falls. It is very beautiful but if you are not in good shape I would recommend skipping it until they complete a repair to the trail, having cut off an easier way to walk to the falls. Additionally, it is 10.00 to park in their lot( even for disabled persons) and 5.00 per person to walk the trail..so we spent 25.00 for less than 45 min. Not recommended for cardiac patients until trail is repaired.

The hike put you in the thick of a tropical rainforest. The songs of birds from the canopy filled the air. We wanted to take so many pictures because around each new corner was a plant we had never seen. The falls were easily visible and you could see the base.
FYI - The parking lot has a $10 fee per car plus $5 per person. Also, the trail has lots of stairs and is quite steep.

The view of the waterfall was beautiful. I was disappointed we couldn’t go down into the falls. I’d expected a better experience based on the drive it took to get there and the pictures online.

Parking was quick and easy.

Fun little walk through a tropical forest. Currently it is a one way walking path that looks down and around up to the waterfall and back up. The path is well maintained and easy enough for most people. Really cool to see the oversized vegetation and unique plants and trees along the walk. Waterfall did not disappoint, keep in mind you can't get that close or go down to the falls.

Parking lot was pretty full when we arrived, late morning. There are park attendants to check to make sure you paid before entering the park. We paid for our tickets online on the way to the park since I heard service was spotty. There are bathrooms, no water fountain but the attendant said you could use the sink.

Excellent view after a mild sloppy hike from car park. It rained and that made the thing’s slippery, but still enjoyable. An oilskin or umbrella could have made our stay more lengthier. Clear instruction and information boards by National Parks authority. Amazing view.

This waterfall is beautiful, both at a distance and as you tread closer, to the open window, you hear the roaring of this majestic beauty long before you see it, set amongst green lush forests, it's at a high altitude, so not a waterfall...that is up close to swim, but wonderful nonetheless

This was an easy trail and there were lots of little waterfalls on the way in (we took the trail that started to the right instead of heading directly to the falls). It was the rainy season which I am sure made the water falls on the trail (the smaller ones) more full and visible than they might be during other seasons.

This is a must-see on this side of the island. Absolutely stunning.

The loop trail only takes about 30 minutes and is set up as a one-way trail, so there aren't really any shortcuts, though you shouldn't take them even if there were - everything seen on the trail is worth seeing! The trail is well cared for, most of it fully paved. There are some stairs and incline/declines, so be sure your party members feel comfortable. Overall, it is more of a nature walk than a hike. Not stroller accessible. There are so many photo stops along the way and beautiful things to see. The Akaka Falls are towards the end of the loop. Parking wasn't too crowded, but you do have to pay per person to park and gain access to the park (bring a card/cash - no tap-to-pay option). For example, our party of 7 paid around 50$. There are restrooms available in the parking lot.

Beautiful. Lots and lots of steps not at all stroller friendly. Go early see both falls. Walk in a Hawaii postcard

Akaka falls is a nice stop on your way to Hilo. It’s a decent drive from the kona side of Big Island but worth it if you’re in the area anyway. It’s pretty easy to get to and there is enough parking since most people aren’t spending a lot of time here. When you’re here swing a right and check out the smaller falls before heading over to Akaka. The only downside is that parking and admission is pricey - you pay a fee per person. Before you come look for coupons online. The falls itself is quite lovely - a great place to get memorable photos. This location is not good for wheelchairs and people with fall risk should walk the path with caution - it can be slippery and there are a lot stairs.

This is a great site along Hamakua. It offers great tropical plants and flowers in an untouched environment. The falls are wonderful often rewarding you with incredible rainbows.

The largest waterfall in the USA. Little bit of a walk but we'll worth it. Great picture place 😁
Will visit again on our next trip. Love all the different things to do and places to see from there to the volcano 🌋

This was our second visit, previously in 2016. It's quite different as there have been lots of precipitation on the island winter 2022-2023. The flow is substantially heavier and makes a fall a whole lot more impressive.

We were at the botanical garden earlier, which makes the loop not worth it. I would recommend making this a really quick stop and head left straight to the fall and back.

Nice beautiful walk to falls, have good walking shoes, could rain . Takes about an 30 mins. Cost $5 per person an $10 for parking but if park on street is free.

One of the things I like most about Akaka falls is that you can hear them before you see them. Take the long way (right path) to the overlook and enjoy a semi shaded paved walkway to the Falls scenic point. The left path is a more direct route if you are on a time crunch. There are stairs to contend with so not recommended for anyone who has difficulties walking.

Our family of five from Texas and Oklahoma visited Oahu and the Big Island for Spring Break! The waterfall and area is Amazing!! I love waterfalls and this one did not disappoint! We did the entire loop, several stairs to climb up and down but not too strenuous! All the tropical plants and trees around the hike are Beautiful and Huge!! We were surprised at the size of some of the plants and leaves!! The hike is absolutely worth the entrance fee and hike! It is truly an Amazing sight!! Would definitely recommend this waterfall hike!!

The most appealing human quality to me was seeing others help each other take photos...laughter, smiles, sweat and the smell of sweet Hawaiian flowers in the air! Isn't that part of what a vacation in Hawaii is supposed to include?!

Easy-ish walk to see the falls - if you stay to the right like the park guide suggests, you might get down to a dead end on the walkway and see a small waterfall off in the distance. This isn’t what you came for. Turn around and take the stairs that will now be on your right when you’re headed back up. The falls are pretty, but I’d suggest you park just outside the gate and at least save that $10 parking fee. The entry fee is $5 per person and that’s fair.
On another note, if you love cats, you might consider bringing can or two of cat food and a paper plate (or tortilla which is biodegradable) - there is a colony of cats in the parking area that I was told are fed by someone but some of them are in bad shape and could use a meal.
Back to the falls - we got there just before 4 pm and were reminded the gates to the parking area close at 5 so we were worried about time. We had more than enough to make the full loop and stay to see the falls for 5 minutes. The parking are inside the gates had lots of space and just outside the gates there were a lot of cars but still lots of room. Toilet facilities were simple but clean.

The Akaka Falls State Park is a great stop for any touring of the east coast of Hawaii. The staff at the very busy parking lot is helpful and polite, and the short hike on the paved trail is awesome. While it's a short and easy loop, you feel immersed in the rainforest and the views are fantastic! Akaka Falls is a lovely attraction, and while it's fairly small and quick, the falls and setting are awesome.

The falls are gorgeous & lovely walk through the thick jungle was amazing. Very crowded middle of the day though. Park outside the yellow gates alongside the road to avoid the $10 parking fee & pay just the $5 per person admission.

Excellent hike through beautiful foliage. The falls are beautiful. Short hike but somewhat steep down hill and gains elevation on return. Great walkways.

Crowded, not a great view, although a very impressive set of falls...there are better ones nearby that don't require payment. Basically kaka

The drive from Hilo Town to the Falls is pleasant, scenic, glimpses of the ocean. Work your way up to elevation to where a few amenities are available. Reality hits when you get into the park. As an island resident I am shocked at the condition of the parking area, maybe 30 spots, people are parked all up and down the edges. You can be a quarter a mile away a busy day, forced to walk in the active roadway. Three ratty, nasty picnic tables sitting at a cliff where no child or adult with balance problems should be anywhere near! No railing, no safety enhancements the whole place is dirty and weed filled, hardly natural habitat.

The attendant by the park fee kiosks was rude and nasty. I guess we look too much like tourists? She demanded the children present IDs . Seriously? I ask the kids what school they went to they told her, it was obvious we live here.. We used our Hawaiian drivers license, she dismissed us as if unhappy we are locals.

The walk down ramps, steep steps and a railing only on one side. Any misstep, you'll bust an ankle. Never going back. I have seen spectacular water falls in mainland US, Iceland, Canada. Sad to day our State taxes make this a sad stop.

This is a beautiful waterfall. Beware that your navigation app may send you to some very backroads to the falls. We thought we were lost!! Once you arrive, you have 3 different people working to collect the $10 if you park your car in the lot and $5 per person to view the falls.

Although the falls were not bad, it was way too expensive ($30) and busy for what you got. Rainbow Falls which is right in Hilo is much better bang-for-your-buck.
The good part, though, was a stop at Mr Ed's afterwards for a rainy day coffee and amazing pastry stop.

Beautiful area, pricy for what it is, though. You don’t need to park inside and that saves $10. Nice views of both falls, the walk can be a little laborious if you dislike stairs. The story about the falls is really fascinating, be sure to read the postings just outside the entrance.

This place is magical. The entire forested walk is full of lush vegetation, running water from the kolekole stream, and views of waterfalls which are literal stuff of legend. If you're a plant person, this is definitely one not to miss. .

Akaka Falls State Park was one of the highlights of my trip to Hawaii. There is a small entrance fee, but it's worth it. You get to hike through the rainforest, see waterfalls, and enjoy beautiful scenery. When I visited, it rained but the clouds and fog made the waterfall look majestic. Actually the fog cleared in like ten minutes while at the waterfall so I got to see the greenery around the waterfall. The roundtrip hike was short and pretty easy. Highly recommend Akaka Falls.

We had a waterfall afternoon, visiting Rainbow and Akaka Falls. We parked on the road thinking the car park was full but it was just people avoiding the $10 parking fee. Entrance is $5 per person.

It is a very easy walk with a concrete path the whole way, which does spoil the nature a little. It is a nice walk through lush bush the waterfall is impressive.

$20 for 2 people and parking seems a little steep, it is the same price as Diamond Head, which is a much longer walk. It says allow 30 minutes for Akaka Falls but you could walk the path much faster than that.

Amazing waterfall that is about 30 min from Rainbow Waterfall. It is a bit of a walk on well paved path and steps to get there. Parking attendant said “stay to your right” but as soon as we got down first stairs, we went left and so glad we did! Saw the huge waterfall after following the path. There is another waterfall (you hear it) but it’s covered with the lush plants and trees. Worth doing the entire loop! Recommended to wear shoes that are for walking rather than flip flops.

Disappointed-prettier falls where I live for FREE! $25 to park and walk a 1/2 mile trail borders on tourist trap territory.

Easy walking down a loop trail into the valley and back out, with a couple of shelters along the way in case you forgot your rain jacket. You pay for the park and for parking unless you're a Hawaii resident. Bathrooms at the parking area.

We went relatively early (10am or so) and had no problem finding parking. The walk to the park was full of jaw dropping rainforest sights, from the tiny (lizards sipping from flowers) to the grand.

Very accessible and easy walk, even with my 73 year old legs with bad knees. Easy drive from Hilo area - best to arrive early (like 8 AM) before crowds arrive. All of the path is paved, and there are not too many steps. If you want to see a beautiful (and high) waterfall without exerting much effort, this is the place to do it.

Drove all the way here to be greeted by a man sitting in a car to tell us the park is only open on the weekends. We were there on a Tuesday. Signs before the dead end road would be nice.

An amazing slice of Mother Nature. The falls were beautiful and not a long hike. Paved the whole way. Enjoyed this lil slice of heaven.

What an amazing place. Yes, the falls are spectacular but the walk to the falls is even better! Absolutely beautiful! We spent more time taking pictures of the walk to the falls than the falls themselves. We also wanted to take video to get the sounds of the birds singing. It is a beautiful place!

Long drive to end of road. They charge $10 to park and $5 for each person. You can see it from the top of the view but not very good. You really need to walk down 53 steps to see it.

We drove from volcano national park around the north coast and stopped here on one of our stop offs. It’s a small loop with quite a few steps but all fine.. there’s a smaller waterfall and the impressive Akaka falls.. for a small park if you’re driving along the coast it’s worth it. Would I drive from far to visit just here, no.

Disappointed, very busy on the trail, wait in line to see a waterfall far away. I would suggest the Biosphere Garden of the Volcano Park, but you need to go early to avoid the crowds.

Akaka Falls is definitely worth the effort. It is a spectacular waterfall in the middle of a beautiful rain-forest. The trail is a quite short half-mile loop that is completely paved with only a few ups and downs facilitated by stairs. The hike itself is wonderful with lots of bamboo, banyan trees, and all the other rain-forest flora. And when you arrive at the Akaka Falls overlook...wow! Just like in the movies! A couple of caveats before you go so you're not caught off-guard. (1) It costs $10 to park inside the park gates. You can park outside the gates for free, but you might want to check if parking rules are in force. It also costs $5 per person to do the hike. We thought the $20 was worth it, but it can be a shock. (2) The second waterfall on the hike is called Kahuna Falls...it is not very good.

It was the biggest ripoff of my trip. The scenery and the falls itself are underwhelming to say the least. The biggest fall can be seen standing outside the entrance in the parking lot.

For the pleasure of seeing these unremarkable and uninspiring waterfalls, while drudging along this humdrum trail, you can pay $10 for the parking and $5 for each person to enter the trail. It was truly an experience I would never forget, but I wish I could.

This was a pleasant half mile walk on a paved path (with stairs). The falls themselves are impressive. But the fee ($10 for the car plus $5 per person) seemed excessive.

Nice hike around the loop. This is a nice waterfall for pix as its in a very tropical setting and is very tall. Well managed but parking can be challenging though it looked as if there's a project to add additional space. Note: $10 to park and $5 each to enter, credit cards accepted.

Located about 20-30 minutes North of Hilo, this is a beautiful small State park. There is a fee. The path is paved totally but there are more than 100 steps up and down. The falls are spectacular and the vegetation is beautiful- the larges Blanton trees and bamboo fill the forest. Plan on 30-60 minutes, more if you like to take it all in.

‘Akaka Falls is really beautiful and the lush forest on part of the walk is also very impressive. However, there are a couple of items to keep in mind before visiting:

1) There is a $10 fee to park and a $5 fee for each person entering the park. Also keep in mind that parking is very limited. Many people park on the road outside the gate.

2) The trail that leads to the falls is all paved, but there are moderate changes in elevation that require a fair number of steps at various places. Please consider your personal health situation when deciding whether you feel you can manage it.

I do recommend a visit to the falls, keeping the above observations in mind.

They were charging $20 to park in the lot where the bathrooms were located. They asked us how many of us so maybe it was $10/person? Seemed a bit excessive when you can park right outside the lot on the street and walk up for free. The height and force of the falls in impressive, but there are many others on the island that are free and also beautiful.

This is a lovely park with a view of 2 waterfalls. The hike is pleasant and goes through a tropical environment. There are many people there. The waterfall is high enough that it is difficult to get a photo of it from top to bottom.

Beautiful scenery, stunning falls. Too many steps to be wheelchair accessible. However, most can walk the loop. You can see the falls from the parking lot,

I wish I could give a separate review for the water fall and the park itself. They really need to put money into this park. There is not very much parking and if there is a bus, well... They did have someone trying to help people park but they end up parking along the road side. There are kiosk to pay for parking and good thing there are employees to help because it was very confusing with all the people there. The whole park could use some updating and cleaning up. There were bathrooms but I did not use them so I cannot say anything about them. Now the waterfall, WOW its beautiful, stunning! There is a 0.4 mile hike up and down stairs so its not handicap accessible. There is also a smaller waterfall but its really hard to see. I would visit again.

Parking price is determined by a base price for car parking plus how ever many people are in your car. The workers were helpful with finding parking and were friendly. The trail is a loop to akaka falls and Kahana falls on concrete stairs. This will be easy for most people but due to incline may not be suitable for those with mobility issues. This is the best waterfall near Hilo in my opinion and this is the one to see if you only have time for one. The tray is surrounded by beautiful trees and flowers. In Google maps make sure to avoid private roads because at first we went to the wrong location. There is also a bathroom on site.

This was a quick hike - you can definitely see the falls and walk around the lush forest in an hour. However, the cost is pretty high just for an hour of time - $10 for parking and $5 per person. It was pretty, but not worth the $35 we paid for 5 people.

On my day trip from Kailua-Kona to Hilo this state park was one of the sights I planned for. One thing that entices travelers to Hawaii is lush-green nature. After lunch I drove here to see firsthand how therapeutic nature can be. Once you enter the park you see a sign that directs you to a specific waterfall. The path is a circular path that you get to see both waterfalls - Akaka and Hakuna.

I went to the path going to the Akaka Falls. This is one of the most majestic falls I ever seen - the other was Niagara Falls. You feel the magnitude sound of the water hitting the ground yet soothing to your ears. If you're vacationing soak in the sight and sound of a waterfall. Whatever stress you had at work prior to your vacation should be erased by seeing Akaka Falls. Even though there is a time limit on your parking don't rush as you can finish the circular path over an hour. Just remind yourself you are on vacation.

After staring at Akaka Falls for about 20 minutes I took my time walking around. Then I decided to go around the circular path to the other waterfall at the state park. When you walk on the path you feel as if you are walking in zoo. Unlike caged animals you see waterfalls not covered by fences. The other waterfall Kahuna Falls is covered by vegetation.

I don't reveal tips on my reviews here are a couple I recommend:

1) To avoid the crowds and find parking do not visit the park on the weekend (Friday included). I came here on a Thursday afternoon.

2) Once you pay your parking online the time limit of about 1 hour and 45 minutes starts. I paid for the parking about 20 minutes to my arrival as there is hardly any internet at the Akaka Falls State Park.

If you follow the tips above you can enjoy a relaxing but not pressed time to watch the waterfalls.

Beautiful, tropical location teeming with ginormous banyan trees! It was a short hike on a concrete path. Get the “Seek App” and you can figure out all the names of the plants. Of course there is the falls but that isn’t even as impressive as all the other plants.

It was a bit pricy and park workers were there making sure you purchased parking passes. If you parked on the inside of the gate is was actually less expensive? They charges more for outside the gate. There was no way to get to the falls without showing the parking pass.

The hike to the fall(s) was pretty easy. Lots of steps but not hard. There are actually multiple falls you'll see on the hike and an amazing Banyan Tree that literally crosses a stream in the air and grows a new spike on the other side! Waterfall is beautiful. Good picture opportunities. There are bathrooms there and ample parking. $5 a head so not expensive. Go.

It’s just beautiful and so lush. The sound is great! Hint: You may want to park outside the parking lot as parking is $10 and entry is $5. There is space to park on roadside leading up to lot.

What fun to visit Akaka Falls. There is parking at the end of the road and you do pay to park and walk into the falls area. Some people were able to park on the side of the road but it will depend on available spots. There is a .4mile loop around 2 waterfalls. There are many steps and some incline. There is a short version that can be taken as well just to see the main and largest waterfall.

We enjoyed the entire walk around the jungle area. So much green and huge trees and flowers were blooming. At the intersection we went to the right to see the smaller waterfall first and then the larger waterfall was second. This area is popular with tour groups.

Beautiful, short walk. Several employees there to help with parking and payment machines. $5 to park and $5 to walk the trail. Gorgeous vegetation and scenery.

We went as part of an organised excursion from our cruise ship so everything was made easy. It was pouring with rain but we were prepared so this was not a problem.

There is a loop path with a well prepared pathway and steps including railings where you might feel uncertain. It is still worth wearing decent walking shoes, particularly when it is wet.

You walk through impressive lush scenery with

The parking can be a bit tough, and you will be charged a parking fee but it is a worthwhile stop. There is a look trail and you will see two falls but the Akaka Falls is the best. You can see some wildlife running around here and there and the crowds aren't too bad.

It was a nice-added stop on our trip. We enjoyed spending time here. Would recommend if you can fit in your trip's timing

I was deeply disappointed by the way they are robbing us by charging for parking $10/car and $5/per person to walk down to see the falls. You can park out on the street for no charge but who knows if they give parking tickets since they do that more often now. So sad!! I didn't hike down because of this and no parking on tge street anyways.

Pretty amazing sight and backdrop for some lovely photos. $5 entrance fee is charged via cc @ the top
of the steps. Loop takes about 20mins to walk. Park on the road outside to avoid the parking fee.

It is a beautiful park with Falls. You will not only enjoy the falls but also beautiful botanical garden. It is over a half mile walk with stairs but views through out the circle are great.

The falls are beautiful as is the bike to get to them. It is an easy hike that is cool with the tropical canopy. We really enjoyed our visit.

This was totally worth it and was so gorgeous. It only took us about 30ish minutes to walk the whole thing. We didn’t stop much, but got some beautiful photos and the waterfall was so pretty. I would definitely recommend the stop.

This is a great little park. It was fun to enter the rainforest area of The Big Island. This park is very simple and is a small paved loop trail about half a mile long. Akaka falls is beautiful.

The Good:
Akaka Falls is truly a beautiful sight to behold. The trail is short, easy, well-maintained, and provides stunning views of the falls and surrounding foliage. These falls are twice as tall as Niagara Falls...impressive! The park is loaded with bamboo and Banyan trees, as well as tropical flowers.

The Bad:
The cost is a total rip-off! Locals are clearly using this to take advantage of tourists, as the prices do not apply to Hawai'i residents. Parking your car alone costs $10, and then it's an additional $5 per person to hike a one-mile trail. My advice: if you choose to go here, park on the street just outside the entrance to avoid that extra $10 fee. I recommend going to one of several other FREE hikes to waterfalls.

Akaka Falls is certainly worth the hike. Kahuna Falls is not. If you can skip Kahuna go straight to Akaka. For those of us a bit or a lot out of shape this is NOT an easy hike if you do the entire circle. Lots and lots of stair steps if you go the entire circle!

The short walk to the Falls was absolutely beautiful! Lush tropical walk! A must see if you’re in the area.

Beautiful surroundings! Not for the physically compromised. For us older folks with heart and respiratory conditions, take the first left and go straight to the falls!My party thought there should be a sign to that effect.

Beautiful view and there was a huge tree at the site that we also took pictures with. We were able to enjoy this staying less than 45 minutes.

Nice waterfall and beautiful stroll in the forest. Can be quite busy, but worth it. Payed parking fee seems unnecessary, in particular considering the state of the restroom at the parking.

It was a beautiful walk of amazing scenery and lush trees and waterfalls. We enjoyed the walk very much.

Wonderful experience. We took the longer path to see the falls, and really enjoyed the beautiful jungle scenes. The falls were impressive and we got some really good pictures.

Parking cost $10 and there was a $5 cost per person. But it one of those must sees on the island.

It's ok. I wouldn't feel like you missed out on something if you don't see this. It's only Akaka Falls and some rainforest. The smaller falls you can only see literally 2 feet of b/c vegetation blocks the view. This isn't like Kilauea where I could stare at the lava bubbling all day. This is...it's a waterfall, cool, I get it, time to go. Does take a nice pic. Not a must do I would say. After this was very glad I did not go to smaller rainbow falls.

Love the waterfall & the east circle hike. Akaka Falls is gorgeous and so is all of the beautiful trees, flowers & birds. It is a quick stop with a small fee, we arrived about 9:30 & it wasn’t too crowded busy by the time we left about 11:30 it was crowded. So beautiful.

Very beautiful setting for the falls.
I expected it to be a longer hike which was a nice surprise.
Recommend buying your parking/entrance before arriving.

This is a really beautiful spot. It’s an easy walk and really worthwhile. But beware of visiting the washrooms. My brother used the toilets and reported it was really disgusting and foul smelling; with soiled toilet seat. No towels, hand dryer or sanitizing gel. Given this is a National State park this is really shocking. With the charges for the car park, one would expect the revenue generated could be used to provide clean toilets for visitors.

Great trip, the waterfall is stunning and so is the walk to get to it. We went on a cruise excursion and would definitely recommend this trip.

Easy loop through the forest and fauna to see a large waterfall. Very picturesque although the bottom pool of the fall is now obscured behind foliage. You have to pay $5 a person to enter and $10 to use the parking lot. Nice "meet and greet" payment guards are there to help make sure you pay to enter.

This was a lovely area to spend some time in during our trip to the island. The paved path and stairs were relatively easy to navigate. The falls were stunning…haven’t seen a drop like that before! Considering it only took about an hour to see everything, it was a bit expensive and the parking lot was very small.

Nice place for a short hike with the Family. Very easy and everything is paved.
Saw other falls including the main Akaka Falls. There is a small parking fee and park entrance.

The falls is pretty and the walk is very nice. You can save money if you park on the street outside of the gate. They charge you per person when you walk in. We were unlucky to have a foggy/rainy day so we didn’t see the falls much but we’ve been on a sunny day on a previous visit and it was pretty.

Beautiful nature with the waterfall as a highlight of course!
It is a short trail, easily accessible via paths and stairs, which are about 800m in total. The nature is truly fantastic, so really enjoy it.

Admission is $5 per person and $10 for a car parked in the parking lot. You can also easily park outside, but we decided to just leave it as is and support them in this way.

All in all it will take you 45 minutes, but worth every cent!

You pay $10 parking and $5 per person entry fee. Entrance is staffed so don't think you're getting around that. Very limited parking and most will need to park on the road. This is a looped stair walk fully paved but the return section was closed for repairs during our visit which made things tight because people were coming and going on the same path...which is only 4 feet wide. Handrails throughout so it is very safe. Lots of stairs so take your time.

The falls were pretty but if you have many things to see/do in the area, I think they can be skipped. I'm not sure the drive was worth it for us. We took the loop, as recommended, but at one point we got to a one-way sign so went the way suggested. We then realized we missed the second falls on the property so we were disappointed. The signage could be a lot better.

Parking is limited and you have to pay to park in the lot. We found free street parking very close so that was easy. Bring bug spray as my ankles got attacked!

We got here about 1/2 hour before closing. We parked along the road to save the $10 parking fee. The entrance fee was $5 per person. The 0.4-mile loop was easy, as the walkway was paved. There were also some steps involved. In addition, along the loop, there were two waterfalls - Akaka Falls (442 ft.) and Kahuna Falls, which was not as visible, probably because it was only 100 ft tall. Restrooms and a picnic area are available. The vegetation was breathtaking!

This was a beautiful doable hike for 55 year olds. I think it’s a must do. Path was paved with steps and good handrails.

This is the first place we headed when we got off the plane in Hilo. It is an easy hike to the waterfall, though there are stairs so it is not accessible. It is a beautiful spot.

As some other reviews mentioned, it's pricey.
Felt underwhelming..we had a better time driving along the Scenic drive & checking out the little waterfalls along the drive.

Don’t pay the 5 usd per person (up from 1 usd about 3 years ago) to go in. Almost no info tables, no cash allowed but a fee for credit card, tax on top of entrance fee….

Nice walk down and around two waterfalls. Picnic tables in shade at the parking lot make a great place for a picnic. Restrooms r convenient. However, this is a popular stop so parking can be a challenge.

It's a beautiful hike, but I think the staff take advantage of haoles (white tourists)! The website says you pay $5/car to park and $1/individual to go on the hike. But the staff had us pay $5/individual, just because we didn't know better!!!

You pay through a kiosk, but they pushed all the buttons for us. And because they did it so fast, I didn't get a chance to see what we were paying for!

Beautiful falls!! Easy hike. Totally worth it. You can actually see 4 falls. Steps are easy and you can go two ways.

Outstanding variety of water falls and excellent viewing areas. Parking can get crowded, but worth waiting for. Follow the one way circular pathway to take in all the fabulous sights. Minimal parking admission fee paid with credit card.

If you love natural scenery, this is one of the best things to see in the Hilo area for a small fee. The tropical foliage is as spectacular as the falls. The paved walking trail is easy if you don't mind some stairs. Be sure to bring a camera and take your time enjoying this natural wonder. Be prepared for rain.

Nice tour of about 20 minutes in total in a beautiful forest. The ring is closed for works until an unspecified date. You go up and down on the same road. Arrived at the lookout point.... you can only see part of the waterfall and you cannot admire the plunge of the water below. Save yourself the visit (5 euros per person) or at least the parking (10 euros), which you can avoid like everyone else does by parking immediately before.

Beautiful, easy, round trip walk to see the falls. We were staying in Hilo, so the trip was short. Cute little row of businesses on the way to stop and grab a bite. They do close very early, though.

Very pretty, but don't do this unless your in decent shape. If you are in poor health, take it slow. Almost 300 steps in this mini-trek. Here is a good tip. There is a point, where you see the waterfall...stop, take video, pictures, then turn around and save yourself 70 steps. Two people requested medical attention, for this jaunt.

The waterfall was beautiful! I thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of the area; however, on the way down the steps to the waterfall, my friend fell and scraped both knees badly. When we came back, I asked for a first aid kit, which the park officials had, but it had not been maintained, so there were no bandages or gauze available. We were given a wipe that contained an antiseptic, and the park official never dropped the pretzel she was holding while she searched for the wipe.😏 Always remember to purchase a first aid kit for the rental car. Lesson learned.

Beautiful hike and view of the falls. Well maintained and pleasant to relax with a view. Nice nature walk with lots to see.

Trip up to the Falls was great!, Lust greenery plants, bridges, waterfalls...Excellent tour guides. Recommend this tour to all...

My family and I stopped here and hiked to the falls. Half of the trail is closed right now so I feel that this makes the hike a little more challenging because of the out and back nature of the trail. While it was cool to see in person, I wouldn’t say this is something you absolutely must see, we were there for maybe 45 minutes to an hour and while the hike is only a little difficult it’s not super pretty.

The falls are beautiful, and the path is paved and in great condition. (Several steps up and down throughout.) It's marked "one way", probably still a Covid response. The giant bamboo, banyan trees and flowers are beautiful too. We enjoyed the walk and views.
There is a steep "tourist tax" now, Diamond Parking attendants said it's to help cover maintenance. It was $5 for each of us visitors, and Hawaiian residents are free. It was confusing - are we paying to enter the park or for parking? Attendants help visitors with the credit card machine to keep the line moving.
Restrooms onsite were clean with running water, soap (no towels).

One of the most beautiful sites ive witnessed. Trust me you will not regret it, there is a beautiful hike to the falls which in itself is worth the trip to the falls. You will pay parking and a per person fee. Not exact on prices but for 1 vehicle and 7 people it was a little over $45. Its a must go when on the big island.

There is currently no tour due to construction work, so you return on the same beautiful path through the tropical vegetation.
From the end of the path, everyone can take photos without being disturbed - the waterfall is far away and no one is jumping in your face...
At the end, there was a beautiful rainbow to see.
Saving tip: Park in front of the parking lot on the side of the road.

Drove to the waterfalls from Kailua Kona and enjoyed the drive and the hike/walk to the falls. It's a loop trail that took us ~45minutes of casual walking and taking a lot of pictures. It's not stroller friendly! Tons of stairs going down and up, so you'll break a sweat but nothing too hard. The main waterfall has a nice sitting area to relax and couple other waterfalls towards the end. Very beautiful

This sight requires a 15 minute drive off the main highway into the park to reach the falls area, As is typical there are often a lot of cars and inadequate parking in the proper lot and a hodge podge of cars parked in ditches and on road sides outside the park gate. You have to pay per car in the park itself thus everyone cheats outside and makes a mess. You have to pay for each person inside the park. I viewed the falls from my moving car driving through the parking lot not stopping and my opinion is simply not work it, skip this on your trip to Hawaii. There are other falls to see many for free and this one while sounding exotic disappoints at least for me. I recommend saving your time, money and parking irritation for better activities on the big island!

The sight of this tragic lust, guilt, love and forgiveness story brings amazing beauty to Hawai'i. If you have time go see it. The parking is tight especially on busy days. There are fees and you should expect to pay per person and car. The local legend behind this sight brings special meaning to its grandeur.

We had to pay 10 dollars for parking and 5 dollar each person for the entry. Its way to pricy. There is a good view point for the first fall but you cant really see the secon fall. Cant recommend it bc there is a nicer view of the Akaka Fall from the parking spot.

Parking is an issue so you need to go as early as you can. Parking outside the full lot was necessary for us but the edge of the blacktop has been eroded which makes it tricky in a car. At any rate, the walk was lovely with the highlight for us being the vigorous plant life. The falls are best when it has been rainy but this also makes the trail a little slick. Wear good shoes.

Lovely falls. There is a walkway to the viewing site. The walkway has a number of stairs, but it also has railings to hold on to. Also the trail is not level......some areas you are walking down and others you are walking up hill. Most people did alright on the trail, but if you have mobility issues this is not for you.
The parking lot is small and there seemed to be a line trying to get in. There are public restrooms that were in good working order. If you bring a lunch there are a few picnic table.

The view of Akaka Falls is absolutely gorgeous! It is super enchanting and beautiful. Unfortunately, it was very hard to see the other waterfall but the view of Akaka Falls made up for it. The plants and environment around Akaka Falls is also stunning. It is all very lush and extremely photogenic. It was a fairly easy hike but there were some parts were the stairs could be tiring.

This review is for people over 65, you should not attemp this unless you are in top shape. We tried it, we are 81 and had a terrible time . The pictures do not show how steep the stairs are. The stairs and railings are wet and slippery all the way down and back. when we were there they had two people that needed medical assistance, one that probly went to the hospital?

We went in search of waterfalls and were not disappointed. The parking lot is pretty small and does charge but we were glad to find a spot. There is also a per person charge to go on the trail to see the waterfalls but the path is fully paved with strong railing throughout. But that doesn’t mean the trail is for everyone. We took the circle trail and there were many staircases and some uphill but only took about 1/4 mile to see some amazing waterfalls. If you can manage the steps and angles, it’s worth it,

Absolutely stunning! Super easy hike and beautiful. Take the time to go around the entire loop - it takes less than an hour. If you park right outside the gate, you don’t have to pay $10 for parking.

Great falls and state part. The hike to the falls is a little less than a mile and not strenuous. We had. 6 and 10 year old and neither had any trouble hiking the trail.

Pay a little extra money to park for a closer walk with dollars used toward park upkeep. The views are great with a paved and walkable trail, including places to stop for pics or to catch your breath, if needed. $10/parking and $5/person was well worth seeing all of the falls and vegetation.
NOTE: Restrooms are right near the entrance with cold, clean, and drinkable water.

Beautiful falls. Was kind of crowded. You do have to pay to park (unless you park outside of the yellow gate) and there is a small entrance fee per person. Our family just walked down to Akaka falls due to a time limitation. Was an easy walk with stairs. The walk through the forest was gorgeous and the falls do not disappoint.

It's a beautiful state park with an amazing over 400 foot waterfall where you navigate through lush, tropical rainforest (with paved walkways, stairs and railings). Considering the price and ease to get in, I would HIGHLY recommend adding to your list! Best of all we did it for free! This was great to do right after our afternoon zipline tour at Hawaii Zipline Tours!

HOURS: Google and their website report that they close by 5pm, but the actual parks signs state 6pm.
COST: Parking costs $10 (you pay a meter with credit card) and entrance is $5 per person, but we were told by a local to park OUTSIDE of the gates (picture attached) and then you can park for FREE. However, their website claims that you will have to pay even when parked outside the gate - again, something that we didn't find was true. Because this is a State Park I think those with National Parks Passes (Interagency passes) could possibly get in for free!
DURATION: 20 minutes of hustling through (we had dinner reservations to get to). But taking your time, it could take about 45-60 minutes
MOBILITY LEVEL: I would describe this as easier than a hike, but more difficult than a stroll as there are several stairs you must negotiate both into and out of the park (even if you turn around halfway). This is park is NOT wheelchair accessible.

Very scenic. The hike is easy and along a well marked guided paved walking path. The diversity of vegetation you see is amazing.

The fruit stand on the way to these falls (very close to the parking lot, not walking distance) is nice too. We got good coconuts, pineapples; expensive but good.

Akaka Falls is a popular tourist attraction but I avoided the traffic by reaching the park by 8:00 am. A credit card is needed to pay a fee to enter the park and parking lot. I assume that if I had parked outside the entrance, there is no parking fee.

I’d advise just taking the Akaka falls trail and then head back same way. The Kahuna falls trail has a lot of stairs up/down and you can barely see the waterfall from the observation point. The Akaka falls trail has one long set of stairs down then up to return. The rest of the walkway is a flat trail although there is elevation on the walk back up. I will say though the Kahuna falls trail is very pretty with a lot of huge trees and foliage. There is no where to stop and rest on either trail but there are benches at Akaka falls. Parking lot is really small - maybe 15-20 cars total - and costs $10 plus $5 per person admission fee. There are public bathrooms off parking lot.

Not a long trek to the falls, but lots of steps for those with mobility concerns. So beautiful and highly recommend.

Love the rain forest feel to this park. (In fact it was raining when we enjoyed it so that made it in some ways, better. Sky wasn’t as blue but falls were robust and full!

Beautiful, small hike to reach to the actual falls, cannot miss this while in Hilo. keep time to observe all flora during the hike - banyans, lots of flowers on the way. see 3 -other waterfalls on the same trail. Parking was easy and managed by a guard. Akaka Waterfall itself is beautiful, very tall ( taller then niagara falls ).
Keep 1 to 2 hours for it.

Hard to describe the shear beauty and magnificence of these falls. Although you can see the large waterfall from the outlook outside the park, there’s a second waterfall you can’t see from that vantage point, as well as a lot more botanical beauty throughout the park. Well worth the trip.

Beautiful tropical rainforest with view of a lovely waterfall - taller than Niagara at 422ft but much narrower! The walk is on a paved route but there are lots of steps but take it easy and it’s a nice easy trek. The car park costs $10 but you can park outside the yellow barrier and it’s free. It’s $5 per person - no cash as you get a ticket from a machine but there were plenty of people to help. Has toilets.

So worth the trek! If you’re not in the best shape, turn left and take the shorter walk. If you’re willing and able, turn right for the longer route and to be immersed in the rainforest.

Stunning views.

Parking can be a mess.

We wanted to see the waterfalls At Akaka on our way around the island. Akaka state park is very cool and the trails and falls make it a nice place to spend a few hours.

The falls are very high and plunge into a pool with a single stream. You need to pay ot park and then walk down a path with many steps to get to an overlook. It is still pretty far away so you just get the view in the tripAdvisor picture here. My wife liked Rainbow falls better, since it is more varied and you can see all the parts. I thought the walk while strenuous was fun, and there is another falls that is more disguised by tree growth later on the loop. It is only about 10-15 mi from Hilo, so pretty accessible.

We enjoyed a lovey hike to the falls despite the very rainy conditions! The views are definitely worth braving the rain!

Easy hike through canopy to very tall and beautiful falls. Lots of flowers in bloom and huge stands of bamboo.

Beautiful walk down paved stairs to view the waterfall. Great viewing area and a shaded area to sit on benches if you need a break. The walk back up is very botanical with all the jungle feels.

Compared to other attractions in the island, this is the worst one. Too expensive for a family with all fees, for very small hike and views of the waterfalls. Do not travel across the island just for this one.

Incredibly beautiful falls! The walk is short and sweet…not strenuous. The falls are spectacularly tall and grandiose!

Nice walk down a paved path to a beautiful view of the falls. Great background for photos. Also, lots of unusual plants, and tons of bamboo.

There is a fee of $5 per person, by credit card only. The parking lot is very small. We had to park down the street,

You can view part of the falls from the entrance area. For anyone with mobility issues, this isn’t for you. Lots of stairs and ramps.

Akaka Falls State Park is a magnificent place. The falls and plants are outstanding. Unfortunately, greed has set in and the cost to visit seems to escalate every time I return there. My family once called Honomu our home and my late father was the 1st caretaker of Akaka Falls park from 1931-1956, when our family relocated to California. The park, still beautiful, is far from the loving care my father gave it.

Amazing walk through lush area with a variety of tropical plants, There are several stairs though the walk isn't hard. Beautiful waterfalls, a very relaxing site.

Just go! This spot is truly amazing. The views and grounds are incredible. Go, make amazing memories, and take excellent photos. I saw younger kids and elderly people walking along the paved path. It's a doable and short walk--well worth the stop!

Akaka Falls State Park is outside Hilo but not terribly far. There is a paid parking lot but it’s free to park along the street outside the lot. There were multiple workers present checking admission tickets when we arrived. The walk to the falls was not too far and through a very lush section of the forest. The waterfall itself is amazing and certainly why you go. Once there we stayed a few minutes for pictures but overall it shouldn’t take more than an hour at the very most.

Overall enjoyed our time at the falls, took the long ways around using the trails, stopping taking numerous pictures. Once at Akaka Falls observation point, it was packed with people. We were told it was free parking and only $5 to get in. If you park inside the gate its $10 parking, $5/person, & its cashless so have your credit cards ready. Plus they have individuals there to make sure your pay, attendant to show you did actually pay. Still worth the walk, the sights.

It was well worth the drive from Waikoloa. The Hilo side of the island is so lush & green. The walk to the falls was beautiful and the falls was stunning. So happy we went.

It's beautiful and worthy to visit this place
There are 2 falls, Akaka and Kahuna.
Highly recommend to see Akaka whereas Kahuna is just a very small one, not attractive at all

There’s a walking path to get to the falls. The waterfall is huge and beautiful to see. After viewing, you turn around and hike back. There are restrooms in the parking area. Supposedly there is another trail and waterfall viewing area, but that path was closed while we were there. Bring a poncho. It rains often and was raining while we were there.

Small circle route in a very green park. This route has also couple of stairs, be ready. Good waterfall view, it’s really giant.
Parking zone with restrooms.

This state park has 4 waterfalls, but only one is highly visible. Easy paved walk in a large circle. Great views. Interesting flora and fauna. Inexpensive and takes under an hour.

The falls themselves are beautiful and a true sight to behold, but the price is a rip-off. I understand if you park outside the yellow gates and walk in you can save the parking fee, but we didn't see anything telling us that we had to pay to park ($10) until we got to the top of the steps where the rangers are stationed to make sure you feed your credit card into the machine. Then you find out that in addition to paying for the parking, you also need to pay $5 per person. Look, either one of those fees I can understand, but layering them on top of each other just feels like highway robbery. I was ready to walk away but my wife wanted to see the falls so we paid and went for our walk. At that price you can be sure we took the long loop to get our money's worth.

I always remind myself that the fees we pay go to support the parks but I'm not sure what they are spending it on here. The pathway, stairs, railings, and basic signage sure can't cost that much to maintain.

Yes, the falls are great and the area you walk through is beautiful but the path (even the long route) doesn't take very long to complete and the viewing platform at the falls is quite crowded.

Watch for signs as you drive to the park because if you blindly follow Google Maps you may find it takes you a route that now involved a private road marked No Trespassing which forces you to backtrack a bit. If you see a sign that says "No Access to Akaka Falls", believe it. That, and park outside the yellow gate to save the parking fee, are my two tips for future visitors.

Great state park! We arrived mid day, and it was crowded. The staff was helping with the parking and again when you got ready to walk down, to help with the admission on the machines. Great walk, around .7 miles, lots of plants, one waterfall you can't really see, and then Akaka, which you can. Twice as tall as Niagra! Had picnic tables I the shade so we could eat before heading out. The staff here were very busy but super helpful and nice

Beautiful trail, to an amazing waterfall! The flora along the trail delighted the eye, at every turn. I highly revommend visiting!

When we went it appeared to be closed, wish we could have seen it. Otherwise, would have been beautiful.

Unfortunately, this tour was done during a rain and overcast weather. Additionally, there was construction On a portion of the walkway forcing everybody to take the long route to see the falls. Once there it was an awesome sight. Additionally, since 2010 they’ve enforced parking policy per person entry fee. It used to be a few dollars to view this falls now it was over $30 for a family of four. This is unacceptable

Incredible waterfall just a short hike up and down paved walkways and stairs. Worth the trip and effort to see.

We almost didn't stop here based on negative reviews, but I'm so glad we did. We didn't have trouble finding a parking spot (it was a Wednesday afternoon in mid-February). We were able to pay for parking ($10) and admission ($5/each) easily on a phone. There were also multiple kiosks around to pay at with a credit card (no cash). It was a lovely paved walk (about 1/2 hour) through some beautiful forest. The first waterfall was somewhat hard to see through the trees, but Akaka Falls was gorgeous and definitely worth the walk and the entrance fees. We're visiting from Georgia, and we just don't have scenery like this at home. It was beautiful and a treat to get to visit. We enjoyed it thoroughly.

The star of the show is the one to the left. The suggested sign says go right, but if you’re pressed for time just head straight to the star of the show and skip the smaller one.
The attendant will assist you with your fee to park and enter which will be $10 per car and $5 per person.
I see people not parking at the premises and out on the road. Long walk imo just to save $10.
I’m sure people don’t pay to get in, but if they use the money for upkeep then it’s worth it.
Easy to get to as the signs are well established.

Very very cool! It rained basically the entire time we were there, but the trip was well worth it! Have a 5 and 3yo and they did great. Because of the rain it was very misty and the falls kind of came and went as far as the view, but definitely worth the 5$ fee and will probably go again at some point and hope for sun!

This is not far from Hilo. You have to walk (with stairs) to get to the viewpoint of the falls. Happened to be there the same time as cruise ship guests, so a little crowded but still everyone could get their views and photos. Nice walk, nice view. Probably need 30-45 minutes and not much more.

Here there is a wonderful trail loop around a canyon with two waterfalls. The walk is through dense, gorgeous vegetation. It was a highlight of our trip. We wouldn’t have wanted to miss it!

Great detour from Kona to Hilo stoped at the State park and walked the .5 mile loop, easy walk with stairs, absolutely beautiful. Recommend taking the time to see this place.

There are 4 waterfalls on this short hike. It's paved the whole way, with a covered rest area at the Akaka Falls.

Very beautiful but very short walk (less than 0.5 miles) and parking fee is quite high ($10), not posted anywhere near entry, and you can park outside for free w/ short walk. Of course by the time you parked and figured it all out - you would not want to repark. Admission $5/person.

...that runs about a half mile. And it's paved. There are some pretty nice views of the waterfall which is pretty damn tall. I was wondering if you can get to the bottom of the waterfall from the trail, but I didn't see you away. I think I spent less than an hour here. Nothing really much else to say.

A wonderful place, easily accessible and worth a couple hours to spend enjoying the lush tropical forrest.

You don't want to miss this! The falls are gorgeous and it's an easy walk even for those of us who are not in the greatest shape.

Honestly if you have seen one giant waterfall no need to see this one. Yes its nice but I saw one like this in Kauai and for free. I drove up had to pay for parking and entrance fee for maybe 30 minute walk to see waterfall to then turn around back to car. Honestly I would not recommend. But if you have never ever yet seen a waterfall then go ahead.

Beautiful falls. One path under construction, so can become busy. Go early when they open and no problem. The employees at the gate help you purchase parking and passes to get in. You don’t have to purchase ahead of time.

Upon arrival to this state park, the lot was full and we had to park on the outside of the gate. To our benefit, it cost less to park outside of the gate. I only had to pay $10 for my husband and I. This state park is a beautiful walk through a tropical jungle to see waterfalls. It's a paved path, however, there is a lot of stairs. We enjoyed our time at this park.

The waterfalls are fine but what I really love about this little loop is the vegetation. Being from the US west coast, I am used to being near waterfalls of all sizes and strengths. But the neat vegetation loop with plenty of geckos and such was worth it. This was my second trip in three years to this spot and had the same reaction the second time as to the first. I’m not sure it’s worth the cost of entrance but if you are thirsty for waterfall viewing, it may be for you.

The loop path was a nice walk and the falls were impressive. I actually liked Mr Ed’s bakery and Glass From the Past in Honuma on the way to the falls better.

Perfect exercise with a fun view, we got some rain but it was great. Be prepared with good pair of shoes. The mist coming from the waterfall was very refreshing

The ten minute paved walk to Abakan Falls is gorgeous. You can smell the tropical flowers blooming and the vegetation is striking. At the end of this relatively short path there is a wonderful view of Akamai Falls. well worth a visit.

OMG!! If you want a picturesque waterfall then THIS is it!!
Pros: easy to get to. About 15 minutes north of Hilo.
Simple walk. The trail is fully paved with handrails. I think the whole loop is half a mile.
The view of the waterfall is breathtaking. It is double the height (not width) of Niagara Falls!!
The grounds are lush and tropical.

Cons: we paid $26 for a family of three and parking for one hour. But I’d do it again (it’s THAT good).

This is a nice short hike to view falls from a distance. Its a paved trail with many stairs. Was very busy the day we visited. Path is short less than 1 mile. There are parking attendants to help with parking. Oddly enough one of the few times we had cell service in that area was to pay for parking via QR code. There are bathrooms which are badly in need of attention. Easy walk to do with kids

Lovely park hosts tropical rain forest and tall waterfall. Walk does include a lot of steps. Area often rains so bring a rain jacket. Memorable visit is short trip north of Hilo.

Very cool! Not too far and is totally paved so mostly easy "hike". Lots of steps, though. Very pretty. Maybe plan an hour total, including there and back to Hilo. Quaint little storefronts a lite bit outside the park.

Excellent waterfall to visit. Easy to get to by car and then a short hike on a paved path (with stairs and inclines). Beautiful views, even when it's rainy and foggy (as it was on our visit). Cost is currently $5 per person entry and $10 to park, but it's worth the price. As others have mentioned, you can park just outside the entrance to avoid the parking fee if you want.

This State Park is almost a half hour north of Hilo, but the drive is quiet scenic! There is an entry fee of $5 per person. You can park in the paved lot right on the park's doorstep for $10 or park just outside the yellow gate along the road for free.

The looped-hike is easy and paved. There are some steps to climb/descend. But the Falls are very impressive! My family and I (three teenagers) really enjoyed our time at this park.

This is a lovely loop to walk. There is jungle-like vegetation, the impressive high falls, and a couple smaller waterfalls. It's paved and not strenuous, but there are several stairs. There are signs leading to the park from the main road. The drawback of this site is the $10 parking charge plus $5 a person admission.

Small fee to get in. Easy walking path even for elderly. Lovely trees, foliage, flowers. Water fall is big. You cannot get close to it. Only view from a platform across from the falls.

It was a beautiful hike. However it was a bit strenuous for those that are not in really good shape. .4 mile distance.

You can park free a short distance from the trailhead, or you can pay $10 to park beside it. The entry point has credit card machines that take your parking fee (if applicable) and $5 per person to acces the trail, and there are helpful employees if you have trouble with the machines. The trail is probably rated moderate due to some of the inclines, but it is beautiful and offers a breathtaking view of the falls.

You must pay to park. It’s a 442-foot waterfall located on the Big Island in the Akaka Falls State Park. There is 0.4-mile loop trail that passes through a rain forest but leads to multiple viewpoints you can observe both falls. We just stayed on the path to the Akaka falls. Lots of lush vegetation and on the trail out we saw some banana plants.